He's Back For Josh
Summary: Josh's uncle comes home for a visit and methodically tears his nephew's life apart.
Disclaimer: If I directed the show…I wouldn't've stopped making new episodes!
Chapter 10 – At Work
The next morning, Josh climbed out of his bed, nearly falling flat o his face when he tripped on his comforters. He rubbed his eyes tiredly, wondering why his head pounded with every step. Suddenly, the events from last night came rushing back to him so hard that his stomach dropped. He gasped and sat heavily on his bed.
His uncle was here.
Memories from the previous night hit him, but he shook his head, trying to push them away. He wouldn't let his uncle's presence bother him—or at least he'd try not to. He ran shaky fingers through his dark, messy hair, and then stood. He looked at the digital clock by his bed; the red numbers read 9: 42. He rubbed his itchy eyes again, brushing away the crusts, and looked over to his brother's bed. Of course there was still a large lump under the covers, and a messy flop of brown hair on the pillows.
His brother was so lucky, Josh thought, for he had no nightmares plaguing him—no, he slept peacefully and was probably dreaming about hot girls. Josh shook his head again, not liking the jealousy that was creeping up on him. That wasn't fair to his brother; Drake hadn't talked much about his past, either.
Josh quietly opened his clothes drawer, pulling out his wrinkled uniform and draping it over his arm—he would go to work right away this morning, and probably every morning he was here. He didn't want to spend any time in the same area as his uncle. He just hoped he wouldn't run into him this morning, when he was feeling especially shaky and disoriented.
He let the shower pound onto his back, savoring the hot tingling water on his tired back. When the steam grew thick, he grabbed his towel and then dried himself off. He dressed quickly in his uniform—it wouldn't hurt to go to work without ironing his yellow vest and blue collar shirt one day—and then sat in the kitchen munching a granola bar while tugging on a sock. His eyes landed on a note on the refrigerator. As he peered closer, he noted it was from his Dad. He asked Josh to show his uncle around town before work, or maybe even take the day off.
Josh scoffed. Yeah, right, he thought, ripping the note and throwing it into the trash bin. There was no way he was sticking around, waiting for his uncle to find him. Who knew where he was this morning. He could be waiting for Josh to sit down and put his guard down, and then maybe he'd jump out and…Josh grabbed the keys from the counter and rushed outside. He backed out of the garage, and sped to the Premiere.
William watched Josh drive off from his window. He slid back the curtains to reveal a very harried looking Josh. Only days ago he was watching Josh from across the street, but now he was inside his very house, looking down at him. William chuckled quietly before turning back into his room to check his e-mail. Maybe he would pay his dear nephew a visit later.
Josh rang the register and placed the money inside. He slowly counted out the change and handed it to the young girls who were chattering a bit too loudly for Josh's ears. He handed them their tickets, and asked, "Would you girls be interested in some candy or…" But they gave him a strange look, and walked towards the theaters. Josh rolled his eyes—this was not going to be his day.
-.-
Josh glanced for the hundredth time at the circular clock across the room—thankfully, it was almost three, which was his break-time. Today had been a slow day, and had given Josh time to think. He'd been so lost in thought the whole day. However, he had come to the conclusion that he would just stay as far away from his uncle as possible until he left, which was in about a week.
That would be the safest decision. He couldn't help but wonder, however, if his uncle would try to hurt Megan. His blood boiled at the thought, and he called Megan—she was definitely alright, if her loud displeasure at being disturbed while watching her favorite show gave any indication. He thought a bit about telling Drake, but decided against it—he'd tell only if his uncle tried anything. Until then, he would just ignore his uncle.
But he couldn't stop wondering why his uncle was at his house—why he came to stay for a whole week, when he hadn't even called for the past four years. Josh contemplated the possibilities, but did not come to any conclusion. For whatever reason, he was home, at Josh's home; he hoped he would leave quietly, and do nothing to hurt him—or his family.
"Next," he called out.
"Hey, can I have some popcorn and root beer?"
"Sure, just hold on a sec," Josh barely registered the words, for he was still thinking about his uncle. Josh grabbed a tub and filled it with popcorn, and then held the root beer nozzle toward the popcorn tub, filling it with root beer.
"Hey, you just…Aw, never mind…" the customer relented after noting Josh's odd faraway look.
"Next," Josh called out. He straightened and saw that he knocked over a row of candy. He had to clean that up before Helen came out; she always yelled at him for the messiness of the candy counter. "What would you like to—" Josh stopped when he finally looked up.
There stood the perpetrator of his nightmares, and object of his current whirling thoughts—his Uncle William. He stared at Josh and raised his eyebrow. What was he doing here? Josh stood with his mouth hanging open again. First he was at his house, and now at his work? Josh clutched the candy box so hard the cheap cardboard crumpled. He heard the distant buzzing of the people around him, but he could only focus on his uncle's smirking face.
"I dunno Josh, can you recommend one? I need to see something good—I was bored out of my mind after having lunch with your father." William stared at Josh's reaction. He had blanched and was staring at him. "Tell ya what, I think I'll see 'You Can Run, But You Can't Hide.'"
Josh jerked his head, and typed it into the register. A ticket sprang from the printer, and Josh mechanically tore off the stub. He then reluctantly extended his arm for the proffered money. He quickly counted the money with trembling fingers, and could feel his uncle's eyes on him as he leaned toward the counter.
"Keep the change," he muttered and strode away from the counter. He grinned evilly; he had succeeded in disconcerting Josh. He was glad he still had that effect—it would make the job that much easier, and more exciting.
Josh continued straightening the already neatly aligned candy boxes. He breathed a sigh of relief as his uncle disappeared from view. He needed to take his break—now.
Josh sat outside, angrily. First of all he had forgotten to grab something to eat, and now his stomach was growling in protest. But secondly, and most importantly, questions and insecurities bombarded him. Why couldn't he get over what happened? Was there something wrong with him?
He thought he had gotten over his uncle after his dad married Audrey. Never in his wildest imagination would he have thought that his uncle would return almost four years later. And why did he have to come back now, when everything was finally working out? He finally had a girlfriend, his brother and he got along much better now, and he finally felt completely comfortable with his family. He felt that his nightmares were finally over—that when he moved in with Drake, it was a new beginning; that his uncle would forget about him; that he was safe.
But those were all lies. He had lied to himself. He was furious at the new turn of events, but he should have expected it. Nothing could remain as it was forever. But he just wished his uncle would just disappear and leave him alone—or that this was one of his freakishly realistic dreams.
But it was not so. He hated that he was still afraid of his uncle; he was nearly eighteen. He hated one thing especially that his uncle had instilled in him, but knew was true; he was worthless and weak. He hated his uncle with a passion, but he could say that he hated himself more.
"Hey, Josh!" someone interrupted his thoughts.
"What?" he snapped irritably, but instantly regretted it. He looked up to see Melissa, his co-worker, raise her eyebrows in obvious surprise. Josh was the last person who she thought would yell at her. "S-Sorry, I was just…Sorry," he looked away, ashamed of himself. "What is it?" he asked softly, looking back up through his bangs.
"Well, I know you're a science whiz, so I was just wondering if you could help me with some chemistry. See, I'm taking summer school, cuz you know I transferred in this year and I want to catch up with the rest of you guys. And you're really good at chem," she nervously stated, tucking a stray strand of golden hair behind her ear.
"Sure I can. What do you need?"
After she left, Josh tiredly rubbed his face and went back inside to finish his shift, wishing he would not see him again.